COVID explosion: Andhra's single-day tally breaches 4,500 mark; several politicians infected

COVID cases in Andhra Pradesh have breached the 4500 mark post-festival. Several politicians, government officials, and employees have tested positive in the last two days. In the last 24 hours, the state reported 4570 positive cases.

Tourism Minister M Srinivasa Rao had tested positive for COVID-19 and is under home isolation at Seethammadhara, Visakhapatnam. The Minister was tested positive for the first time in 2021.

Few politicians in the Prakasam district were tested positive. MLA from Gidduluru Anna Rambabu, MLA from Kanigiri Ugra Narasimha Reddy were tested for Covid positive. While the wife of Energy Minister Balineni Srinivasa Reddy tested positive, the Minister also went under isolation as a precautionary measure. YSR Congress MLA Ambati Rambabu has also been tested positive. He was found celebrating the Bhogi festival at Sattenapalli and was seen dancing around the bonfire.

It is known that Minister Kodali Nani, GVMC Commissioner G Lakshmisha also tested positive last week. Many of them tested positive for the second or third time. They have been fully vaccinated.

*Telangana:

Meanwhile, tension gripped the passengers on board an RTC bus after a lady conductor was tested positive in Warangal district. The conductor took a Covid test at Chennuru village before starting her duty. She got her test result before the bus reached Hanumakonda. This made the passengers restive.

*Positivity rate:

The positivity rate in Andhra Pradesh has seen an increase of 11% in a week. While the positivity rate was 4.05% on 10 January, it increased to 15.22 % by this weekend. The majority of the Covid positive cases have been reported from Chittoor and Visakhapatnam districts.